Cotton-thinner.



of Texas,

tare embodied features WILLIAM BILLI' NeisLnr,v

PATENT Critics.,1I

COTTON-THINNER.

SPECIFCATIOYN; forming part of Letters Patent 110.640,862, dated J'anual-y 9, 190i).r v

n Applitin filed September 12,1899 Serial No. 730.2481 (No model-J I .Toa/ZZ whom it .may concern: 1 :.Be it known that I, WILLIAM BILLINGSLEY,acitizen of theUnited-States, residing at Mc` London, in the county oflRockwall and State haveinventeda new and useful Cotton-Thinner,of whichthe following is a specification. p A

This invention relates to machines for thinning cotton; and-the objectof the present con struction is to provide a simple, effective, andcompact machine of this character wherein of adjustment for regulatingthe depression of a gang of hoes and fenders, and also to replace theordinary wheelA devices. for propelling such machines over theground-surfacebyr nnnerswhich are long enough to span the hills, andalso to distribute the draft over a greater portion of the machine.

With these and other objects in view the invention Kconsists in theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be morefully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective View of a machineembodying the features of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a lon-` gitudinalvertical section considered relatively to the position of the gang ofhoes and fenders and in advance of the latter. Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the-direction of the arrow, the beambeing shown adjusted to bring the fenders and hoes in vertical position.

Similar numerals of lreference are employed to indicate correspondingvparts in the views. The numeral 5 designates the frame of the machine,which is composed in the main of front and rearbars 6 and 7, bolted orotherwise attached to end bars 8. Extending from the bar 6 rearward tothe bar 7 are a pair of spaced supports 9 and 1Q, the latter having aseat-arm 11 thereon, arranged at an'angle of inclination, and having onits rear extremity a seat12, the position of this seat being such as toafford convenient means for operating adjusting devices, which will bepresently set forth, and for the purpose of regulating the depression ofthe thinning attachments. To the end bars 8 runners 13 are connected byfront and rear and intermediate irons 14, the front ends of the rodsbeing upturned for obvious reasons, and the front andrear irons and therunners as an entirety are counterbraced by brace-rods 15, connectedthereto and to adjacent under portions of the bars 6 and 7,.

The tongue 16 is movably connected to the center of the bar 6 throughthe medium of an .eye 17, fast on the rear end` of the tongue,

with which the front reduced bend portion of a substantially V- hapedyoke 18 has mov# able engagement, the terminals of the yoke beingattached to said bars 6 between thev Vfront ends of the supports 9 and10. Outside of the front ends of the supports 9 and 10 draft-links 19are applied and pivoted at their l central-pcmtions;i tleopposite'terminalsv or extremities of-the said links being formed with eyes 2Otoreceive the front and rear hooked -ends of draft rods or braces 2l and22, re-v spectively fastened at theirv opposite ends to the upper rearportions of the end bars 8 and the opposite side edges of the tongue 16.The rear terminals of the rods 21 are in the form ofhorizontally-disposed eyes 23,movably connected to the bars 8 byvertically-disposed pivotpins'or studs 24. By this arrangement of draftdevices it will be observed that the draft is more uniformly distributedplied to a greater portion of the machineframe and capable also ofresponding to a slight give or variation in the draft power or force to-therebyT avoidl the concentration of the draft strain on the frontportion of the frame and make the said frame much more durable bypreventing the parts thereof breaking loose. ,This mode of applying thedraft devices is also highly beneficial in directing the coursev oftravel or movement of the machine and also makes the latter sensitivelyresponsive to turning movements. Furthermore, through the rods 21 thedraft force is applied to theframe in rear of thelocaticn of the gang ofhoes and fenders, and the entire machine is thereby braced against thestrain emanating from the resistance of said hoes and is less liable to'swing when the latter opposite ends of a plow-beam 26 are movably andapi IOO bearing-loops 25 the.

.and adjustably mounted, theseid ends being reduced and rounded toprovide bearings 27 and having attached to the inner termination thereofsuspending lin-ks 28, which are pivotally attached, in advance, to theadjacent inner edge portions of the bars'S. The beam l26 is accordedaswinging movement through the medium ol., the links 28 and is adapted tobe elevated or depressed, as well as turned,

lthrough the -uedium of edges standing at en angle to a horizontalplane. Theouter stocks 3l are not bifurceted and thereto,r are attachedsingle fen-f ders 3e for the reason Athat for a practical operation afender isnecessery on eacheide of a hoe, and there being outer side ofthe end fenders ,the latter are used et this point in single form. Thehoes 32- have dat bottoms 35, andeach hoe is'so shaped as to loosen andthrow up the cottonplants on opposite sides against the fenders, with anobvious result.- protect or shield the 'rows of plants between the hoesto prevent covering of the same by stocks SO'and 3l are yso as toprevent turning,

the soil and loosened plants thrown up, and thus facilitate the thinningoperation. 'The held in the beam 26 by clips 36, which are preferably ofU-shaped form, and in View of the sent provided in each instance for thestock through the medium of the mortises 29 only one of the clips isnecessary to firmlyand properly hold a stock in position, and with suchfirmness as to resist accidental loosening. vAs a further benecialadjunct to this simple mode of fastening the stocks the latter areangular in cross-section and the mortises r29ers of a similar contour,

insure a proper direction or position of the hoes and fenders-- .C Asconvenient means of controlling the augle of the hoes and fenders andfor rotating the beam 26 an arm 37 is secured to the front side thereofandY projects above the Ysame' ad'- jaeent the outer edge of the support,9. -To the upper end of the said arm e link-'rod 38 is movablyattached, and also at its rear terminal to a shifting lever 39, carryinga sliding locking-dog 40, cooperating with a toothed segment fil, thesaid lever being pivoted to the face of the segment and movable closelyagainst one side of the latter, as in ordina devices of this character.arm 37 and prevent it 'from being pulled loose, a strap or analogousbrace 42 is secured thereto and also to the rear edge of the beam 26,and it will be seen that provision is thus "justed no Ahoes on the."

The fenders Will-also' and thereby alwaysv To strengthen the` made forshifting the 'leverl 39 either for-V Wardl y or backwardly withoutdanger of loos-` ening or breaking said arm 37. The beam -26 is alsoadapted to have a, vertical adjustment` imparted thereto Yto vary `thedepth of peneL tretion'of the hoes 32,:and for: this 'purposel- ,atoothed segment 43 is secured tothe inner edge of the 'support 10directly above" the ,beam, and theretois pivotally attached a hell-vcrank shifting lever 44, carrying a lockingg4 dog l to engage theteeth4of the said segfV ment end having connected t0-the .lower short armthereof a link 46, which' is ahoattached to the top edge of the saidbeani 26. By push ing'the loyer 44 forwardly the ,beam26 will be raisedVto en y elevation desired end the sdf' position sustained by the dog 45look-4 ing between two of the teeth of the segment 43. A rearwardmovement ofthe will depress the beam 26, and'sfter justmen't of the beamin a vertical elevation mfay remain undisturbed and the lever 39 shiftedeither forwardly cr reen Wardly over of the hoes the same. The mannerof. attaching the sus# pendinglinks 28 to the opposite extremities thisadof the beam 26 is shown by Fig. 1 and is oit such a nature that theopposite bearings 27 of the beamare free to turn in the terminalsof thelinks 28'engaging the same; prevent-the beam from moving rearwardlybeyond a predetermined point and maintain its adjustment in the arc of acircle.v This is particularly advantageous in view 'of the fact that thepoints of the hoes 32 are caused -to lirst penetrate the ground and theflat bot-V toms 35 afterward brought squarely down in the soil and Workin ing horizontal plane at e preferred depth helow the ground surfaceand until the vertical adjustment of the beam is changed.

In operating the machine it is slid transversely of the lines of 13, asbefore indicated, span the said hills, thus keeping the machine in I oftravel while the hoes 32 are uproot-ing and cleaning out the superfluousgrowth of cottonplane its'` its segment to change the angle and fen-dersor to entirely clear but said links' uniformity and unvsry-l Vlever 442lob hills, and the runners a regular plane plants, the plants leftstanding being shielded j by the fende rs passing thereover, and throughthe eliminating work carried on by the hoes said standing plants arerelieved of the dan ger resultingrom .overgrowthnrlchokingv-v- Theentire machine can be controlled by one operator, and the particularwork to which it is adapted 'may be rapidly carried on. In

ras.

time for the purpose of sharpening or other manipulation, and thefeeders are normally adjusted at such an elevation that when the hoesare depressed to a Working position they will move close to the groundsurface and regularly and distinctly define by their operation the linesof plants to remain standing.

Many other advantages and conveniences will become Aapparent in the useof the improved machine, and in certain applications it may be necessaryto change the form, proportions, and minor details of construction. Suchchanges will be made in this direction as fully lie within the nature orspirit of the invention.

Having-thus described Athe invention, What is claimed as new is 1. In adevice of the character set forth, the

i combination of a frame, a beam having independent vertical and rotaryadjustments, a series of hoes carried by said beam, and fenders arrangedintermediate of said hoes and also supported by the beam.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a frame,having end bars, de-

pending bearing-loops secured to said end' bars, a vertically-adjustablebeam having its opposite ends tted in said loops, suspendinglinks havingtheir rear ends loosely fitted over the opposite terminals of the beam,a gang of hoespreultixrating devices enthebeam, vand separate adjustingmechanism for the beam adapted to independently control the verticalmovement and the rotation of said beam.

3. -In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a framehaving elongated runners at opposite ends, a beam supported by the saidframe and having independent vertical and rotary adjustments,cultivating devices on the beam, a tongue movably attached to the frontportion of the frame and adapted to have vertical movement, and draftdevices in part rigidly connected to the tongue and all movably attachedto the frame.

e. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a framehaving runners at oppositeI ends, a beam adjustably mounted in the saidframe and havinga gang of cultivating devices thereon, a tongue movablyat'- tached to the front central portion frame, draft-links movablyattached to the front portion of the frame on opposite sides of thepoint of attachment of Athe tongue,

of the v draft-rods movadly attached to the rear of lthe j opposite endportions of the frame and to the rear terminals of the said draft-links,and other draft-rods iixed to the tongue at their front terminals andhaving their rear terminals in engagement with the front ends of thesaid draft-links.

5. In a device of the character set forth, ythe combination of a framehaving runners at ep- -posite ends, cultivating devices supported byVthe frame, a tongue movably attached tc the front central portion ofthe frame,`and draft devices inv part rigidly secured to oppositeportions of the tongue in advance of the attachment of the latter to theframe, another portion of said draft devices being connected to theframe in rear of the position of the cultivating-v devices 'i and alllthe draft devices movably attached to the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM BILLINGSLEY.

Witnesses:

E. D. FOREE, G. A. TRUITT.

